Edge alignment of alternately deposited cloth webs



A. l. GILBERT July 25, 1967 EDGE ALIGNMENT OF ALTERNATELY DEPOSITED CLOTH WEBS Filed May 21, 1965 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 July 25, 1967 A. I. GILBERT 3,332,681

EDGE ALIGNMENT OF ALTERNATELY DEPOSITED CLOTH WEBS Filed May 21, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 A. l. GILBERT 3,332,681

5 Sheets-Sheet 5 EDGE ALIGNMENT OF ALTERNATELY DEPOSITED CLOTH WEBS @MMN July 25, 1967 Filed May 21, 1965 United States Patent M 3,332,681 EDGE ALIGNMENT OF ALTERNATELY DEPOSITED CLOTH WEBS Abner I. Gilbert, New York, N.Y., assignor to Cutting Room Appliances Corp., a corporation of New York Filed May 21', 1965, Ser. No. 457,720 1 Claim. (Cl. 270-31) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The present invention relates to a cloth laying carriage for use with a cloth laying table, said carriage including means for supporting a pair of cloth web sources which are dispensed in selective fashion depending upon the direction of travel of the carriage over said table, said carriage having edge sensing means for each Web controlling motor means for shifting the cloth sources in a direction perpendicular to the path of movement of the carriage, for maintaining an edge of each of said pair of webs in a common vertical plane. Switch means is included for connecting the appropriate sensing means to the single motor which performs this function.

This application is a continuation-in-part of my copending application Ser. No. 343,782, filed Feb. 10, 1964, now Patent No. 3,239,211, entitled Edge Alignment of Alternately Deposited Cloth Webs.

This invention relates generally to the field of cloth laying machines, and more particularly to an improved form thereof and method of using the same which permits the laying of cloth at a much higher rate than has heretofore been possible in the prior art. Cloth laying machines, generally, are well known in the art, and are employed to lay a plurality of cloth layers upon a table, prior to the placing of a pattern upon the uppermost layer and the cutting of a large number of parts of a garment which will subsequently be sewn together to form -a completed garment. The laying of the cloth is normally accomplished by movement of a carriage over the surface of a table, while simultaneously dispensing a web of cloth to form S-shaped folds at either end of the table which are held in position by clamp means. A roll of cloth is supported on the carriage, and rotates as the carriage is reciprocated to dispense a web of cloth in a continuous manner. In some cases, where the opposite surfaces of the Web are not identical, it is necessary to cut the web at the end of each traverse of the table, and rotate the carriage through 180 degrees, so that the same surface of the web is always uppermost. In such cases, the laying of a large number of layers requires even more time than when laid in the usual manner.

It is therefore among the principal objects of the present invention to provide an improved cloth laying oarriage of the class described which will materially lessen the amount of time required to lay a given number of cloth layers upon a cutting table.

Another object of the invention lies in the provision of an improved cloth laying machine carriage having provision for simultaneously dispensing more than a single web of cloth, whereby a plurality of layers of cloth may be simultaneously laid with each pass of the carriage over the surface of the cloth laying table.

A further object of the invention lies in the provision of an improved cloth laying machine carriage of the class described having provision for simultaneously supporting for rotation about substantially parallel axes a plurality of cloth rolls, and for placing the webs of cloth emanating therefrom in juxtaposed even relation prior to laying the same upon the surface of the table disposed therebeneath.

3332581 Patented July 25, 1967 Yet another object of the invention lies in the provision of an improved edge control means, including a plurality of edge probes oriented for operation in a common vertical plane, whereby each of the supported cloth rolls may be individually axially shifted to maintain a longitudinal edge of the web emanating therefrom in said common vertical plane.

Still another object of the invention lies in the provision of an improved cloth laying machine carriage possessed of the above advantages, in which the cost of fabrication may be of a reasonably low order, with consequent wide sale, distribution and use.

A feature of the invention lies in the fact that the disclosed embodiments require but very little additional mechanical complications as contrasted with prior art devices dispensing only a single Web of cloth.

These objects and features, as Well as other incidental ends and advantages, will more fully appear in the progress of the following disclosure, and be pointed out in the appended claim.

In the drawing, to which reference will be made in the specification, similar reference characters have been employed to designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

FIGURE 1 is a schematic side elevational view, partly in section, of an embodiment of the invention.

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary end elevational view thereof as seen from the right-hand portion of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary sectional view as seen from the plane 33 in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary view in perspective showing the second embodiment of the invention.

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary side elevational view thereof.

FIGURE 6 is a schematic wiring block diagram of the second embodiment. I

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary section-a1 view as seen from the plane 7--7 in FIGURE 4.

In accordance with the first embodiment of the invention, the device, generally indicated by reference character 10, is illustrated. in the form of a cloth laying machine carriage of generally conventional configuration, and including first and second longitudinal frames 11 and and 12, respectively, interconnected by a plurality of transverse members 13. Wheels 14 are provided at the four corners of the device 10 for the purpose of supporting the same for movement over the surface 15' of a cloth laying table. If desired, track means engageable with one pair of the wheels 14 (not shown) may be employed to assure that the device 10 travels over the surface 15 of the table in a straight line, as is well-known in the art.

Each of the frames 11 and 12 includes an upper longitudinal member 16, a lower longitudinal member 17, and a plurality of vertical members 18 and 19 disposed at the ends thereof.

Extending upwardly from the upper longitudinal members 16 are first, second and third cloth roll supporting means 21, 22 and 23, respectively, each of the means 21-23, inclusive, having associated therewith first, second and third edge alignment or monitoring means 24, 25 and 26, respectively. The monitoring means 24-26 may be of any suitable type, as for example that disclosed in the patent to Johnstone, No. 2,196,663; of Apr. 9, 1940; the patent to Frisbie et al., No. 2,654,599; of Oct. 6, 1953. Suitable circuitry for devices of this type is disclosed in the patent to Farber, No. 3,108,727; of Oct. 29, 196-3. Each of the means 24-26, inclusive, is so positioned and aligned that when in operation each of the supporting means 21-23 is adjusted to maintain the edge of a web of cloth emanating therefrom in a common vertical plane.

The cloth roll supporting means 21-23, inclusive, are

generally similar, and are positioned in vertically staggered relation, as best seen in FIG. 1. Each includes a vertical pair of stanchions 28-29, the upper portions of which are adapted to support a spindle 31 upon which a roll of cloth 32 is supported for rotation. The monitoring means 24-26 are substantially identical, each including electric eye means 34, and motor means 35 under the control of said electric eye means engaging an end 36 of the cloth roll spindle 31.

Each of the cloth rolls 32, in unwinding, provides a web of cloth, as at 41, 42 and 43, which is dispensed in substantially parallel planes.

Mounted on stanchions 45 is an idler roller 46 over which each of the webs 41-43 is trained to form a single laminated web. In the case of most fabrics, there is sufficient nap causing the three webs to remain in relatively fixed position relative to each other after having passed the idler roller 46, so that they may be laid as a unit upon the surface 15 of the cloth laying table. This may be accomplished in any well-known manner, as by passing the now integrated webs over a driven roller 48 which rotates through sprocket means 49 with reciprocation of the device over the surface of the cloth laying table. After passing over the driven roller 48, a vertical continuous segment of the same is guided to fold forming means 51 of well-known type which may be used without alteration or adjustment.

It will, of course, be understood by those skilled in the art that where desired more than three rolls of cloth may be simultaneously laid, and if desired the carriage 10 may include well-known turn-table means for dispensing cloth which must be laid in one direction only.

Turning now to the second embodiment of the invention, as illustrated in FIGURES 4, 5 and 6, this embodiment is adapted to serve as a replacement for turntabletype of cloth laying machines which are well-known in the art and are employed for laying cloth in which one surface of the same is substantially different from the opposite surface, and the requirement must be met that all layers of cloth must face in the same direction. In conventional turntable-type machines, a single roll of cloth is supported on the carriage in such manner that it may be rotated about an axis perpendicular to its own principal axis 180 degrees at the time of reversal of direc tion of movement of the carriage element. Usually, the web of cloth is severed at the end of each stroke, either manually or by knife cutting means which is incorporated into the carriage element. This operation, while not without utility, requires not only that the roll be rotated through the above-mentioned 180-degree arc, but in addition the cloth must then be re-threaded through all the idler and driven rollers through which the web of cloth passes prior to being deposited on the table. As a result, considerable time is lost performing this operation which is necessary at the end of each individual stroke in either direction.

In accordance with the second embodiment, the carriage is so constructed that it will support a pair of cloth sources, either in the form of a cloth roll, or in a bundle of S folds which are supported upon a platform. Each end of the carriage is provided with cloth-dispensing means in the form of idler rollers and a driven roller as well as cloth-severing means. Each end of the carriage also includes electric eye sensing means which are selectively connectable to motor means which shifts the cloth source supporting means in either of two transverse directions. To permit each layer of cloth being laid upon the table to be of the same length, a clear area is provided at each end of the cloth laying table over which the carriage passes at the completion of a stroke, and between which the layers of cloth are superimposed.

As distinguished from the first embodiment, in which several webs of cloth are being simultaneously laid, only one cloth source supporting means need be moved at any one time, and should the others be shifted at a time when cloth is not being dispensed, no harm will result. Therefore, two electric eye sensing means are provided which may be selectively interconnected to a single motor means, the selective interconnection being determined by the position of the carriage element upon the table. At the completion of each transverse movement, a cam contacts a feeler, or arm, on a three-way switch to connect or make operative the appropriate electric eye sensing means. The then selected sensing means will remain connected until the completion of the following movement in a single direction, at which time a second cam member will return the switch to its original condition.

With reference to the drawings, the device, generally indicated by reference character 110, includes a carriage element 111 having side frames 112 and 113 from which wheels 114 downwardly project in normal manner. The side frames 112-113 are interconnected by transverse members 115 and 116.

A transversely movable platform 119 serves as a support for folded goods, and is provided with roll-supporting members 120 and 121 for goods in the form of cloth rolls.

Disposed at a first end 122 are idler guide rollers 123 and 124, as well as a driven feed roller 125 which moves cloth to a combination guideway and cutting member 126 having internally disposed cutting means (not shown) of well-known type for severing a web of cloth at the end of a stroke.

The second end 127 is provided with similar guide rollers 128 and 129 as well as a driven roller 130 and corresponding guiding and cutting members 131.

A table element 132 is of conventional construction, the horizontal member 133 having an upper surface upon which cloth is positioned. A plurality of legs 134 support the element 132 intermediate first and second ends 135 and 136, respectively. 7

Since cloth is dispensed from either end of the carriage element 111, it is laid only between the intermediate points 137 and 138 (see FIG. 5) Which define a cloth laying area 139 therebetween.

Each of the two cloth webs 151 and 152 are controlled by separate electric eye sensing means 141 and 142, both of which are mounted upon the carriage element 111. Shifting means 143 moves the platform 119 along an axis perpendicular to the line of movement of the carriage element 111, the means 143 including a control box 145 feeding current in either one of two directions to a motor 146 having a gear reduction means 147 and a lead screw drive shaft 148 which transmits motion through a nut member 149 on the undersurface of the platform 119. Gibs (not shown) interconnecting the side frames 112 and 113 support the platform 119, and limit movement thereof to pure rectilinear motion.

During operation of the second embodiment, reciprocation of the carriage element 111 causes cams 150 mounted on the surface of the table element 132 to contact a switch 153 extending downwardly from the carriage element 111, to simultaneously disconnect the then connected sensing means 141-442, and connect the correct one for the next movement of the carriage element which will be in an opposite direction.

Thus, during operation, it is only necessary tohalt the carriage element at the limit of the predetermined path of travel, to cut the depending web 151-152, and reverse the path of travel such that cloth feeding will again commence when the underlying previously severed section of the web has been reached.

I wish it to be understood that I do not consider the invention limited to the precise details of structure shown and set forth in this specification, for obvious modifications will occur to those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains.

I claim:

In a carriage for laying a pair of cloth webs in alternate manner, depending upon the direction of travel of said carriage, said carriage including a frame element having a principal axis of movement, and having first and second ends and wheeled means for guiding the same along said axis over a cloth laying table, the improvement comprising: a pair of cloth source-supporting means arranged in parallel relation for supporting -a pair of cloth sources for dispensing said pair of webs therefrom along axes substantially parallel to said principal axis of movement, means for aligning said .pair of webs in such manner that one edge of each web is maintained in a common vertical plane perpendicular to the horizontal surface of said table, said means including first and second photocell sensing means, each positioned in operative relationship with respect to one edge of one of said pair of webs as the same is laid, a single motor means References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,291,351 7/1942 Scoles 270-31 3,033,561 5/1962 Hanna 27031 EUGENE R. CAPOZIO, Primary Examiner.

P. WILLIAMS, Assistant Examiner. 

